Cartridge link guide assembly

ABSTRACT

A guide assembly for moving cartridge links, which are ejected by an automatic type gun, from the gun to a preselected point, with the ejected cartridge links following a desired path. The guide assembly is adapted for use with cartridge links that are of the type having a single upper loop portion and a lower double loop portion with a center section between the lower two loops. The links are detachably connected in a link-to-adjacent link fashion to form an endless disintegrating cartridge belt. The basic and preferred embodiment includes three bar members which are shaped to form the desired path for the links to follow. The center bar acts as the main guide and supports each detached link in the center section of the double loop portion. The outer bars, which are essentially parallel to each other and are uniformly spaced from the center bar, act as restraining guides for the detached links and control the radial turning of the links. This novel guide assembly permits more positive control of the ejected cartridge links, and allows the links to be turned in a much shorter radius, than prior art devices; and, the guide assembly is especially advantageous for use where tortuous paths are involved.

United States Patent [1 1 [111 3,855,686

Snyder Dec. 24, 1974 CARTRIDGE LINK GUIDE ASSEMBLY are ejected by anautomatic type gun, from the gun to 75 I t I R M S d G Vt a preselectedpoint, with the e ected cartridge links 1 nve n or on ny eorgla.following a desired path. The guide assembly is Asslgneei The UllltedStates Of America 85 adapted for use with cartridge links that are ofthe represented by the S cretary o the type having a single upper loopportion and a lower Force, W g 110 double loop portion with a centersection between the lower two loops. The links are detachably connected[22] Flled 1973 in a link-to-adjacent link fashion to form an endless pp419,306 disintegrating cartridge belt. The basic and preferredembodiment includes three bar members which are 52] US. Cl 29/208 EShaped the desired h" h hhhs fellow- [51 Int. Cl B23p 19/04 The centeraets as the ghde and supports 58 Field of Search 29/208 R, 200 o, 200 P,eaeh deteehed hhk eeme e of the deehle loop portion. The outer bars,WhlCh are essentially 29/200 200 208 E parallel to each other and areuniformly spaced from he center bar act as restrainin uides for the de-[56] References Cited t g g tached llnks and control the radial turningof the links. UNITED STATES PATENTS This novel guide assembly permitsmore positive cong n trol of the ejected cartridge links, and allows thelinks uyvaert Primary Examiner-Thomas H. Eager Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Harry A. Herbert, Jr.; Arsen Tashjian [57] ABSTRACT A guideassembly for moving cartridge links, which to be turned in a muchshorter radius, than prior art devices; and, the guide assembly isespecially advantageous for use where tortuous paths are involved.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures 0F A/JVEME VT CARTRIDGE LINK GUIDE ASSEMBLYBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to theendless conveyor art and, more particularly, to a novel cartridge linkguide assembly for moving cartridge links which are ejected by anautomatic type gun from the gun to a preselected point, with the ejectedcartridge links following a desired path.

Devices for moving or conveying and guiding ejected cartridges are notper se new. However, it is fair and accurate to say that what is stillpresently needed in the art, and is not available, is a cartridgeejectment guide device which provides more positive control of theejected links, and which allows the links to be turned or fanned in amuch shorter radius than the three inches which constitute the minimumfan radius necessary with prior art devices.

I have invented such a much-needed device; and, thereby, I havesignificantly advanced the state-of-theart. In fact, my inventivedevice, a cartridge link guide assembly, not only attains theabove-mentioned goals and objectives, but also is simple in structure,is easy and inexpensive to manufacture, and is fail safe in reliability,and indirectly increases the reliability of the gun with which it isused.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION My inventive device pertains to a cartridgelink guide assembly, as adapted for use with an automatic gun whichejects cartridge links that are of the type having a single upper loopportion and a lower double loop portion, with a center section betweenthe double loops of the lower portion, wherein the cartridge links aredetachably connected in a link-to-adjacent link fashion to form anendless disintegrating type cartridge belt. It is to be noted that thisparticular adaptation of my inventive device is solely by way ofillustration, and not because of any limitation whatsoever of myinventive device.

An object of this invention is to provide a cartridge link guideassembly which insures more positive control of the links than isattainable by prior art devices, and which allows the links to be turnedor fanned in a much shorter radius than the three inch radius which isminimally required by prior art devices.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel cartridge linkguide assembly which is very simple in structure, as compared with priorart devices.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel cartridgelink guide assembly which can be easily and inexpensively manufactured.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a novel cartridgelink guide assembly which has fail safe reliability, and which therebyincreases the reliability of the gun with which the inventive device isused.

These objects, and still other related and equally important objects,will become readily apparent after a consideration of the description ofthe invention, coupled with reference to the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation view, insimplified form, showing a preferred embodiment of the invention inoperation, including the support and guidance of a plurality of typicaldetached cartridge links;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view, partially in cross section andpartially in pictorial form, of a typical detached cartridge linkaccepted, supported, and guided by the preferred embodiment of theinvention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view, in pictorial form, of a plurality of typicalcartridge links detachably connected to form a part of an endlessdisintegrating cartridge belt, with the cartridge links positioned in afan arrangement to show the minimum radius required for use in prior artcartridge link guidance devices; and,

FIG. 4 is a top plan view, of a plurality of typical cartridge linksdetachably connected to form a part of an endless disintegratingcartridge belt, with the cartridge links also positioned in a fanarrangement to show, by comparison, the much smaller radius required foruse in my invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIGS. 1-4, inclusive, thesame components and the like are designated by the same referencenumeral.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, therein is shown a preferred embodiment10 of my inventive cartridge link guide assembly which includes a lowerguide portion 11 and an upper guide portion 12. The lower guide portion11 further includes a first bar member 11A having a top surface 118;and, the upper guide portion 12 further includes a second bar member 12Aand a third bar member 128.

It is here to be noted that the preferred embodiment 10 of my inventivecartridge link guide assembly is adapted for use in moving cartridgelinks ejected from an automatic type gun (not shown, since it does notcomprise any part of this invention) which said gun uses cartridgespreviously held by the cartridge links, wherein the cartridge links,such as 101104, FIG. 1, are the type having a single upper loop portion,such as l01A-104A, and a lower double loop portion with a centersection, such as 10lD-104D, between the lower double loops, such as1013-1048 and 10lC-104C, and wherein the cartridge links, such as101-104, were detachably connected in a link-to-adjacent link fashion,such as link 105 detachably connected to adjacent link 106, FIG. 1, toform an endless disintegrating type cartridge belt, such as The termdisintegrate is used herein, as it is used in the cartridge belt art, tomean to separate into constituent parts (i.e., to separate and detachthe cartridge links, thereby disintegrating" the endless belt).

Top surface 118 of first bar member 11A is configurated to accept and tosupport the upper single loop portion, such as 101A, of each cartridgelink; and, the top surface 118 of the first bar member 11A is alsoconfigurated to accept, to support, and to guide the lower double loopportion of each cartridge link, with the configurated top surface 118abutting with the center section, such as 101D, of the double loopportion of the particular link, such as 101.

The second bar member 12A and the third bar member 1213 of the upperguide portion 12 of my assembly are essentially parallel to each other,as is more distinctly shown in FIG. 2; and, said bar members 12A and 12Bare also uniformly spaced from the first bar member 11A of the lowerguide portion 11 of my inventive assembly. Second bar member 12A andthird bar member 12B are configurated and positioned to guide the upperlink portion, such as 101A, of each cartridge link, such as 101. It isto be noted that the second and third bar members 12A and 12B may be,but need not be, axially curved or bent, in complementary mode, to actin a cam or cam-like manner with reference to individual detached links.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, in FIG. 3 are shown a plurality oftypical cartridge links which are the single loop-double loop type, suchas 101-104, that are detachably connected to the next adjacent cartridgelink, such as 101 detachably connected to 102, to form part of anendless disintegrating cartridge belt 100 positioned in a fan (i.e., aturn) arrangement to show the minimum radius R, for use in prior artcartridge link guidance devices. Said turning radius R, is a minimum ofthree inches with the prior art devices. On the other hand, and withreference to FIG. 4, the turning radius R of the cartridge links, suchas 101-104, can be as short as one inch for use with my inventivecartridge link guide assembly 10, thereby permitting the use of a muchsmaller guide assembly, with the attendant advantages inherent to such asmaller sized unit.

MANNER OF OPERATION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The manner of operationof the preferred embodiment 10 of my inventive cartridge link guideassembly is very easily understood by a person of ordinary skill in theart from the foregoing description, coupled with reference to theFigures of the drawings, particularly FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof.

In essence, my inventive assembly 10 forms the desired path for theejected cartridge links, such as 101104, to follow. The first bar memberor center bar 11A accepts, supports, and guides each link, such as 101,by abutting with the center section, such as 101D, of the double loopportion, such as 1018 and 101C, of the particular link, such as 101. Thesecond bar member 12A and the third bar member 128 (i.e., the two outerbars) collectively act as restraints and guides for the links and, inaddition, provide positive control for the turning of the cartridgelinks.

More specifically, as the particular link, such as 101, is ejected fromthe gun (not shown), the link is turned on its end because of the camsurfaces on the second 12A and third 12B bars, with the cartridge beingpositioned with the double loop portion, such as 101B and 101C, downover the first bar member 1 1A. The turned links, such as 101404, arepushed along the first bar member 11A by subsequent links in the turningaction. The turning of the links is accomplished simply by lifting thesingle upper loop, such as 101A, of the particular link, such as 101, onto the center bar 11A, and by using the outer bars 12B and 12C to camthe double loop portion down over the center bar 11A. With the turningaction accomplished, the link is completely under control and can bemoved with ease toward the guide assembly ejection point.

CONCLUSION It is abundantly clear from all of the foregoing, and fromthe drawings, herein, that the desired objects (and other relatedobjects) of my inventive guide assembly have been attained.

It is emphasized that, although there have been described and shown thefundamental unique features of my invention, as applied to a preferredembodiment 10 adapted for a particular use, it is to be understood thatvarious other embodiments, substitutions, additions, omissions,adaptations, and the like can be made by those of ordinary skill in theart, without departing from the spirit of my invention. For example, myinventive guide assembly can be adapted advantageously for use in thosespecial applications where tortuous paths I are involved and controlledlink ejection is necessary.

What I claim is:

1. A cartridge link guide assembly for moving cartridge links ejectedfrom an automatic type gun which uses cartridges previously held by thecartridge links, wherein said cartridge links are of the type having asingle upper loop portion and a lower double loop portion with a centersection between the lower double loops, and wherein said cartridge linkswere previously detachably connected in a link-to adjacent link fashionto form an endless disintegrating type cartridge belt, comprising:

a. a lower guide portion which includes a first bar member having a topsurface, with said top surface configurated to accept and to supportsaid upper single loop portion of each cartridge link, and with said topsurface also configurated to accept, to support, and to guide said lowerdouble loop portion of each cartridge link, and with said configuratedtop surface abutting with said center section of said double loopportion;

b. and, an upper guide portion which includes a second bar member and athird bar member that are essentially parallel to each other, and thatare uniformly spaced from said first bar member to said lower guideportion, with said second and said third bar members configurated andpositioned to guide said upper single loop portion of each cartridgelink.

1. A cartridge link guide assembly for moving cartridge links ejectedfrom an automatic type gun which uses cartridges previously held by thecartridge links, wherein said cartridge links are of the type having asingle upper loop portion and a lower double loop portion with a centersection between the lower double loops, and wherein said cartridge linkswere previously detachably connected in a link-to-adjacent link fashionto form an endless disintegrating type cartridge belt, comprising: a. alower guide portion which includes a first bar member having a topsurface, with said top surface configurated to accept and to supportsaid upper single loop portion of each cartridge link, and with said topsurface also configurated to accept, to support, and to guide said lowerdouble loop portion of each cartridge link, and with said configuratedtop surface abutting with said center section of said double loopportion; b. and, an upper guide portion which includes a second barmember and a third bar member that are essentially parallel to eachother, and that are uniformly spaced from said first bar member to saidlower guide portion, with said second and said third bar membersconfigurated and positioned to guide said upper single loop portion ofeach cartridge link.